Results 8,341-8,360 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes. The idea that the Minister for Finance can come into the House to talk about a loan of €80 billion to Greece and not talk about 2,500 people who are being made redundant in this country is ludicrous.

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Certain parties in this House have for many years lived off the spectre of former Tánaiste and esteemed former Member of this House, Mary Harney. They have time and again criticised her for what they perceived to be right wing economics and dreadful health policy. It is, therefore, hilarious to hear Labour Party and Fine Gael Members of this House support what is essentially a tinkering...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: A way is always found to get money from, say, the widow in Roscommon to whom Senator Leyden often refers. This Bill is only window dressing. No one has yet been imprisoned for breaches of competition law and no one is likely to be imprisoned under this legislation because it is far too complicated. The legislation is much too complex in terms of its provisions in respect of economic...

Seanad: Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We do not believe this legislation goes far enough and are calling for the introduction of much more radical action in this area.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I notice the Labour Party is rather thin on the ground this morning in the Chamber. The cancellation of this afternoon's Government party shows it is certainly the party pooper and that finally it has had one achievement in government. It is beginning to show its true strength in the Fine Gael-dominated Government. I congratulate the Labour Party on that.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Last night we learned 2,500 jobs are to go at AIB. This comes on top of losses of 750 at Bank of Ireland and 900 at Aviva. There has been significant destruction in employment in the financial services sector. We already know the problems that have been caused in the sector. However, those getting the sack are not the ones who caused them.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They are the ordinary tellers and managers who kept society and the economy moving. They are also the ones who probably gave some people hope in their darkest hours when they went looking for a loan from the bank. Normally, when there are major job losses in any sector, the Government will say the usual words of sympathy and that something must be done. In this case, something must be done...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: -----and the retraining that will be offered to the workers in question who may never again work in the financial services sector.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The Government is a year in office. It is about time it started taking responsibility and doing something about the awful problem of unemployment.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He should be seeking a discussion on the crux of this problem. That is why I called on the Minister to attend.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Someone gets the allowance.

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to make a brief observation. Many defective applications are being made to the Department, through no fault of the applicants. They just do not know the criteria the Minister has set out and the complications of the system. The Minister indicated that it is not a medical test for the domiciliary care allowance in full, it is a functional one. That is a problem across Departments....

Seanad: Planning Issues (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: On behalf of Fianna Fáil I welcome what the Minister outlined today. I must refer to the Slane bypass, another issue of life and death. I welcome the Minister to the House. She is a most respected Minister. However, while I respect her I would prefer to see her constituency colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. He is obviously not available. That is...

Seanad: Planning Issues (8 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am pleased the Minister described the road as "terrifying", which is the case. It is gratifying that this has been acknowledged. Everyone knows that. I am astounded by the volume of comments on my Facebook page in recent days. People referred to their fear on the road and how they must constantly look through the rear-view mirror. I wondered why I did not experience that myself. The...

Seanad: Rare Diseases: Motion (7 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Seasaim ar son pháirtí Fhianna Fáil anseo chun lán-tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún seo. Táimid i bhfabhar an rúin agus measaim go mbeidh gach duine eile ó gach páirtí i bhfabhar an rúin. Ní leor sin, áfach, mar fiú má tá gach páirtí ag tacú leis an rún, caithfidh gníomhú leanúint ón rún agus caithfidh an tAire a lán rudaí a dhéanamh. Tá Fine Gael ag tabhairt...

Seanad: Redundancy Payments (6 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to have the Minister in the House. Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh. Gabhaim buíochas duit an ábhar tábhachtach seo a roghnú maidir le na h-oibrithe thuas i nDún na Rí i gContae na Mí a bhfuil i ndáirire ar stailc agus a bhfuil "blocade" ar siúil acu ó lár mí na Nollaig seo chaite. I raise the issue of the Lagan Brick factory. If this factory were in a main town or...

Seanad: Redundancy Payments (6 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I have a number of questions. The last three paragraphs of page 2 of the Minister's speech and the first paragraph of page 3 should be included in a letter to the company. The Minister is making his remarks on the record of the Seanad but they would have some strength if they were on the Minister's headed paper and sent to the company. He would not be doing anything wrong by doing so as he...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: The first matter to which I wish to refer relates to the fact that the statutory instrument on copyright which was signed last night is not on today's Order Paper. While I was able to procure a copy of it from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service, when statutory instruments become available on the Internet and are the subject of discussion in the media, they should be listed on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: If we need more money from the European Union, it has been stated it will not be given to us if we do not vote in favour of the treaty.